Recent statistics from the Ministry of Education indicate that there are 580 teacher vacancies in primary schools across the country, according to Paula Manumanunitoga, general secretary of the Fijian Teachers Association. He highlighted that many teachers are leaving for better pay and working conditions abroad.
Manumanunitoga noted that a meeting with the Minister of Finance two months ago did not yield understanding of the situation faced by educators. He remarked, “There is a severe teacher shortage in this country. This data from the ministry shows that we have 580 vacancies at the primary level.”
With approximately 736 primary schools in Fiji, he mentioned that each school is lacking two or three teachers. Last year, reports indicated that there were 172,023 students enrolled in these schools, with 6,231 teacher positions filled and 184 remaining vacant.
In addition, the 176 secondary schools reported 610 vacancies, including 64 classroom teacher positions that were unfilled due to mismatches between subjects offered and graduates’ qualifications. Manumanunitoga emphasized that it is the government’s responsibility to resolve this issue.
He expressed concern about recent reports suggesting that teacher trainees are being asked to fill teaching positions, which he labeled as illegal. There are also 138 secondary schools in Fiji, and school leaders frequently reach out for additional teaching staff, with a particular need for math teachers.